PURCHASE, N.Y., July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MTN DEW^® is exploding onto the esports scene with the creation of the Mountain Dew League (MDL), which is designed with one purpose in mind: helping amateur gamers become pros. In partnership with ESL, the world's largest esports company, DEW^® and ESEA will give thousands of amateur gaming teams the opportunity to qualify directly for a place in next season's ESL Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Pro League.

"MDL provides a unique opportunity for aspiring professional gamers to realize their dreams on a global stage," said Craig Levine, CEO of ESL America. "With the popularity of esports exploding, we're excited to partner with MTN DEW and find the next generation of Counter-Strike superstars."

The league will start in August and will unfold over the course of 20 weeks in three phases:

• Mountain Dew Last Chance Qualifier. From August 27 to August 28, any player who missed out on the ongoing qualification process this season will have one last chance to make it into the Mountain Dew League.
• Mountain Dew League Season. Following the Last Chance Qualifier, those 24 teams will play each other once a week over the course of 8 weeks to determine ranking.
• Mountain Dew Championship. In December, the eight best teams in each region will compete in an international tournament to be crowned the champion of the MDL. The top North American team and European teams will earn a spot at the ESL Pro League.

Throughout the tournament, DEW will be providing the competing gamers with the top tools and training – including access to online tutorials and tips from the pros. As for fans, they will be able to watch the competition unfold through live-streamed events, behind-the-scenes action and real-time stat tracking via ESEA and Twitch channels.

"Esports is becoming an integral part of gaming culture. As instigators in this space, we want to push the boundaries of competitive gaming and enable everyone in this community to take part in the experience," said Sonika Patel, Senior Brand Manager, Mountain Dew. "Our partnership with ESL is unique in that it gives everyone a platform to participate on a level playing field."

Since 2003, DEW has been a part of the gaming sphere not only as a top fuel for gamers but also through partnerships with popular titles and systems. Through these partnerships, DEW has enhanced the gaming experience by providing fans with in-game rewards and other activities.

For more information on the tournament and tournament rules, please visit the ESEA homepage via this link.

About Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew, a product of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, is the No. 1 flavored carbonated soft drink in the U.S. With its one-of-a-kind citrus taste, Mountain Dew exhilarates and quenches with every sip. In addition to original Mountain Dew® and Diet Mountain Dew®, the permanent DEW product line includes Mountain Dew Code Red®, Mountain Dew LiveWire®, Mountain Dew Throwback®, Mountain Dew Voltage® and Mountain Dew White Out®. For more information, check out www.mountaindew.com, www.facebook.com/mountaindew or follow on Twitter @mountaindew.

About ESL
ESL is the world's largest esports company, leading the industry across the world's most popular video games with numerous online and offline competitions. It operates high profile, branded international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL National Championships and other top tier stadium based events, as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. ESL covers a broad field of services in gaming technology, event management, advertising and television production, fully catering to the needs of the esports ecosystem. With offices in North America, Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Spain, China, Australia, and partners in many other countries, it has a truly global footprint. www.eslgaming.com

About ESEA 
ESEA is the industry leading platform for CSGO with high quality servers, state-of-the-art Anti-Cheat and dynamic community activity. From hosting the world's biggest tournament's qualifiers to their own leagues with thousands of players, ESEA is the foundation of CSGO community.   ESEA has global footprint with operations and communities in over 28 locations including North America, Europe, Latin America, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, & South East Asia. 

Media Contacts

Jillian Galasso, Mountain Dew
O:  914.253.3174
E:  jillian.galasso@pepsico.com

Simon Landon, Golin
O: 312.729.4424
E: slandon@golin.com  

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SOURCE PepsiCo